Manual cleaning tool

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a manual cleaning tool that enables suppression of plastic deformation (permanent deformation) such as bending when a roller brush is removed. The present invention includes a roller brush (7) provided in a frame main body (15). The roller brush (7) includes a rigid shaft (46), a pair of guide rollers (47, 48), which are arranged concentrically with a shaft center line (G) of the rigid shaft (46), and are mounted to shaft ends (46A, 46B) of the rigid shaft (46), and a cleaning brush cloth (49) including cut piles (52) raised from a cloth front surface (51A) of a foundation cloth (51). The cleaning brush cloth (49) is helically wound around a shaft outer-peripheral surface (46C) of the rigid shaft (46) with a cloth back surface (51B) of the foundation cloth (51) being in contact with the shaft outer-peripheral surface (46C), and is fixed to the rigid shaft. The roller brush (7) is removable from the frame main body (15) under an elastically deformed state of the rigid shaft (46). The shaft ends (46A, 46B) of the rigid shaft (46) are pivotably supported by the frame main body (15).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a manual cleaning tool to be used forcleaning of, for example, a carpet, a tatami mat, a wooden floor, asofa, a chair, and a vehicle interior of an automobile.

BACKGROUND ART

A manual cleaning tool is disclosed in Patent Literature 1 as atechnology of cleaning, for example, a carpet. The manual cleaning toolincludes a roller brush and a slant bristle brush, which are supportedin a casing. The roller brush is removably and pivotably supported by apair of support portions. The roller brush is formed by implantingbristles into a core member formed of wires. Rolling wheels are providedat both end portions of the core member.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[PTL 1] JP 2004-329618 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In Patent Literature 1, the core member is formed of wires. Thus, whenthe wires of the roller brush are gripped and pulled up to be removedfrom the support portions, plastic deformation (permanent deformation)such as bending of the wires may occur.

The present invention has an object to provide a manual cleaning toolcapable of suppressing plastic deformation (permanent deformation) suchas bending when a roller brush is removed.

The present invention has an object to provide a manual cleaning toolcapable of maintaining a closed state and an open state of a lid.

Solution to Problem

According to claim 1 of the present invention, a manual cleaning tool isprovided, which includes: a casing including a frame main body having aright wall plate and a left wall plate arranged in a right direction anda front wall plate and a rear wall plate arranged in a front-and-reardirection, which define an internal space, the casing having a dischargeport defined by upper ends of the wall plates in an up-and-downdirection; a pair of roller wheels pivotably mounted to the frame mainbody; a roller brush provided inside the casing; and a lid pivotablymounted to the frame main body and configured to open and close thedischarge port. The roller wheels are arranged such that wheelouter-peripheral surfaces of the roller wheels project beyond lower endsof the wall plates in the up-and-down direction, and are pivotablysupported by the right wall plate and the left wall plate from an outerside of the frame main body. The roller brush includes: a rigid shaft; apair of guide rollers arranged concentrically with a shaft center lineof the rigid shaft and mounted to shaft ends of the rigid shaft; acleaning brush cloth including a foundation cloth and cut piles raisedfrom a cloth front surface of the foundation cloth wound helicallyaround a shaft outer-peripheral surface of the rigid shaft such that acloth back surface of the foundation cloth is in contact with the shaftouter-peripheral surface and fixed to the rigid shaft such that distalends of the cut piles project beyond outer-peripheral surfaces of theguide rollers. The roller brush is provided inside the casing with theshaft center line of the rigid shaft being matched with theleft-and-right direction and part of the cut piles of the cleaning brushcloth and part of each of the guide rollers projecting beyond the lowerends of the wall plates. The roller brush is removable from the framemain body under an elastically deformed state of the rigid shaft, andthe shaft ends of the rigid shaft are pivotably supported by the framemain body.

In claim 1, the following configuration may also be employed. The rigidshaft may be a brush shaft. The roller brush may be removable from theframe main body by elastically deforming the rigid shaft (brush shaft),and the shaft ends of the rigid shaft (brush shaft) may be pivotablysupported by the frame main body.

According to claim 2 of the present invention, in the manual cleaningtool of claim 1, the casing includes a handle formed on the rear wallplate to be located at a center in a direction of the shaft center lineof the rigid shaft and extends rearward in the front-and-rear directionfrom the rear wall plate.

According to claim 3 of the present invention, in the manual cleaningtool of claim 2, the lid includes: a right lid plate and a left lidplate arranged in the left-and-right direction; an upper lid platearranged between the right lid plate and the left lid plate and formedintegrally with the right lid plate and the left lid plate; a first-lidpivot shaft projecting leftward in the left-and-right direction from theright lid plate; and a second-lid pivot shaft projecting rightward inthe left-and-right direction from the left lid plate. The lid is mountedto the frame main body with the right lid plate being located on anouter side of the right wall plate, the left wall plate being located onan outer side of the left wall plate, the first-lid pivot shaft beingpivotably supported by the right wall plate, and the second-lid pivotshaft being pivotably supported by the left wall plate. The upper lidplate covers the front wall plate and the discharge port and is inabutment against the upper ends of the right wall plate and the leftwall plate under a closed state of the discharge port. The right wallplate and the left wall plate are located on the outer side of theroller wheels under the closed state, and cover part of the right wallplate and the left wall plate under an open state of the discharge port.

In claim 3, the following configuration may be employed. The right lidplate and the left wall plate cover part of the right wall plate andpart of the left wall plate under the open state of the discharge port.

According to claim 4 of the present invention, the manual cleaning toolof claim 3 further includes: an operation button provided in the handle;and a closed lid holder configured to hold the lid in the closed stateof the discharge port. The closed lid holder is configured to allow thelid to pivot by pushing the lid in the closed state, in a direction ofopening the discharge port along with an operation of the operationbutton.

According to claim 5 of the present invention, the manual cleaning toolof any one of claims 1 to 4 further includes an open-lid lid holderconfigured to hold the lid in an open state of the discharge port, andconfigured to allow the lid to pivot along with an action on the lidwith a given rotational force in a direction of closing the dischargeport in the open state.

According to claim 6 of the present invention, in the manual cleaningtool of any one of claims 1 to 5, each of the roller wheels includes: aroller inner ring pivotably mounted to each of the right wall plate andthe left wall plate; and a roller outer ring mounted to anouter-peripheral surface of the roller inner ring such that the rollerinner ring and the roller outer ring, which is formed of an elastic bodycontaining a synthetic rubber, form an integral body.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to claim 1 of the present invention, when the roller brush isremoved from the frame main body, occurrence of plastic deformation(permanent deformation) such as bending of the rigid shaft can besuppressed.

According to claim 2 of the present invention, when the roller wheelsand the guide rollers are brought into contact with a target to becleaned, such as a carpet, a tatami mat, or a wooden floor, and thehandle is gripped to reciprocate the casing (frame main body) in thefront-and-rear direction, the roller brush is rotated forward andreverse to enable collection of dirt and dust in an internal space ofthe frame main body with a cleaning brush cloth (cut piles) fixed to therigid shaft.

According to claim 3 of the present invention, when the lid is pivoted,the discharge port of the casing can be opened and closed.

According to claim 4 of the present invention, the roller brush (cutpiles) is pressed against the target to be cleaned during cleaning. As aresult, even when a force (rotational force) in a direction of openingthe discharge port acts on the lid in a closed state, the closed stateof the lid can be maintained by the closed lid holder.

According to claim 5 of the present invention, the open state of the lidis maintained by the open-lid lid holder. As a result, the dischargeport is directed downward in the up-and-down direction to allow thecollected dirt and dust to be discharged from the internal space withoutcausing the lid to be closed.

According to claim 6 of the present invention, the outer-peripheralsurface of each of the roller wheels is formed of an elastic body suchas a synthetic rubber. Thus, damage to the target to be cleaned, whichmay be caused by the roller wheels, can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating a manual cleaning toolunder a closed state of a lid.

FIG. 2 is a top view for illustrating the manual cleaning tool under theclosed state of the lid.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view for illustrating the manual cleaning tool underthe closed state of the lid.

FIG. 4 is a right side view for illustrating the manual cleaning toolunder the closed state of the lid.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2 (whenprotruding pieces are located on a second dust-removal brush side).

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2 (when theprotruding pieces are located on a first dust-removal brush side).

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along the line C-C ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view for illustrating a roller brush.

FIG. 10(a) is a front view for illustrating the lid, and first andsecond claws, and FIG. 10(b) is a top view for illustrating the lid, andthe first and second claws.

FIG. 11(a) is a right side view for illustrating the lid, and the firstand second claws, FIG. 11(b) is a sectional view taken along the lineD-D of FIG. 10(b), and FIG. 11(c) is a sectional view taken along theline E-E of FIG. 10(b).

FIG. 12 is a perspective view for illustrating the manual cleaning toolunder an open state of the lid.

FIG. 13 is a top view for illustrating the manual cleaning tool underthe open state of the lid.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged right side view for illustrating the manualcleaning tool under the open state of the lid.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged left side view for illustrating the manualcleaning tool under the open state of the lid.

FIG. 16 are enlarged partial sectional views taken along the line A-A ofFIG. 2, for illustrating operations of a push plate, the second claw,and each of handle stopping protrusions.

FIG. 17 are enlarged sectional views taken along the line B-B of FIG. 2,for illustrating operations of each of the first claws and each ofbutton-stop protrusions.

FIG. 18 are side views for illustrating opening and closing operationsof the lid.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

A manual cleaning tool according to the present invention is describedwith reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 18.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 18, a manual cleaning tool X includes a casing 1, adust-catch brush 2, a first dust-removal brush 3, a second dust-removalbrush 4, a pair of right and left roller wheels 5 and 6, a roller brush7, a lid 8, an operation button 9, a closed lid holder 10, and anopen-lid lid holder 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 and FIG. 12 to FIG. 14, the casing 1includes a frame main body 15, a partition wall 16, and a pair of rightand left stopper pieces 17 and 18.

The frame main body 15, the partition wall 16, and the stopper pieces 17and 18 of the casing 1 are made of, for example, a synthetic resin andformed integrally with each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 and FIG. 12 to FIG. 14, the framemain body 15 includes a right wall plate 20 (right wall) and a left wallplate 21 (left wall) in a left-and-right direction LR and a front wallplate 22 (front wall) and a rear wall plate 23 in a front-and-reardirection FR, which define an internal space IA. The frame main body 15(casing 1) has a discharge port 24 defined by upper ends 15A of the wallplates 20 to 23 in an up-and-down direction UD.

The front-and-rear direction FR is orthogonal to the left-and-rightdirection LR, and the up-and-down direction UD is orthogonal to theleft-and-right direction LR and the front-and-rear direction FR.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the partition wall 16(partition wall plate) is provided between the right wall plate 20 andthe left wall plate 21, and is formed integrally with the right wallplate 20 and the left wall plate 21.

In this manner, the partition wall 16 divides the internal space IA intoa first dust-collection chamber IB on the rear wall plate 23 side and asecond dust-collection chamber IC on the front wall plate 22 side.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the stopper pieces 17and 18 are formed integrally with the frame main body 15. The stopperpieces 17 and 18 are formed on the right wall plate 20 and the left wallplate 21 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the left-and-rightdirection LR. The stopper pieces 17 and 18 project downward in theup-and-down direction UR, and are located in the first dust-collectionchamber 1B.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 12 to FIG. 15, the casing 1 includes apair of right and left wheel shafts 25 and 26.

The wheel shafts 25 and 26 are each formed in, for example, acylindrical shape, and are formed integrally with a part of the rightwall plate 20 on the rear wall plate 23 side and a part of the left wallplate 21 on the rear wall plate 23 side, respectively. The wheel shaft25 projects outward (rightward) from the right wall plate 20, and thewheel shaft 26 projects outward (leftward) from the left wall plate 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 8, and FIG. 12 to FIG. 15, thecasing 1 includes a bottom wall plate 27, a pair of right and left brushsupport plates 28 and 29, a pair of pivot-shaft holes 30 and 31, a pairof lid pivot-shaft holes 32 and 33, a second dust port CB, and a handle34.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the bottom wall plate 27 closes the seconddust-collection chamber IC from below in the up-and-down direction UD,and is formed integrally with the partition wall 16, the right wallplate 20, the left wall plate 21, and the front wall plate 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 8, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the brushsupport plates 28 and 29 are each formed of an elastic body (elasticallydeformable elastic body), which is made of, for example, a syntheticresin and is elastically deformable in the left-and-right direction LR.The brush support plates 28 and 29 are provided in the seconddust-collection chamber IC. The brush support plates 28 and 29 arearranged side by side so as to be spaced apart from each other in theleft-and-right direction LR.

The brush support plates 28 and 29 are formed integrally with the bottomwall plate 27, and extend upward in the up-and-down direction UD (towardthe discharge port 24) from the bottom wall plate 27.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the pivot-shaft holes 30 and 31 are formed inthe brush support plates 28 and 29, respectively, in alignment with eachother. The pivot-shaft holes 30 and 31 pass through the brush supportplates 28 and 29 in the left-and-right direction LR, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the lid pivot-shaft holes 32 and 33 are formedin a portion of the right wall plate 20 on the front wall plate 22 sideand a portion of the left wall plate 21 on the front wall plate 22 sidein alignment with each other. The lid pivot-shaft holes 32 and 33 passthrough the right wall plate 20 and the left wall plate 21 in theleft-and-right direction LR, respectively, and are open to the seconddust-collection chamber IC.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second dust port CB is formed in thebottom wall plate 27 so as to be in communication with the seconddust-collection chamber IC. The second dust port CB passes through thebottom wall plate 27 in the up-and-down direction UD to be open to thesecond dust-collection chamber IC.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the handle 34 is provided at aposition corresponding to a center between the brush support plates 28and 29 in the left-and-right direction LR. The handle 34 is formedintegrally with the rear wall plate 23. The handle 34 extends rearwardin the front-and-rear direction FR from the rear wall plate 23.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the handle 34 includes a button-accommodationhole 35 and a button-stop wall plate 36 (button-stop wall).

As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 12, the button-accommodation hole 35is formed adjacent to the discharge port 24. The button-accommodationhole 35 extends rearward in the front-and-rear direction FR from thedischarge port 24 side (rear wall plate 23 side), and passes through thehandle 34 in the up-and-down direction UD to have an opening on an upperend 34A of the handle 34.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the button-stop wall plate 36 islocated in the button-accommodation hole 35, and is formed integrallywith the handle 34. The button-stop wall plate 36 is provided inside thehandle 34 so as to be spaced apart from the rear wall plate 23(discharge port 24) in the front-and-rear direction UD. The button-stopwall plate 36 projects downward in the up-and-down direction UD.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the dust-catchbrush 2 is provided in the first dust-collection chamber IB. Thedust-catch brush 2 includes a drum main body 37, protruding pieces 38, afirst dust-catch brush 39, and a second dust-catch brush 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the drum main body 37 isformed in an imperfect cylindrical shape having a dust-collection port41 extending in a direction of a cylinder center line A.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, each of the protruding pieces 38 isan elastic body, and is made of, for example, a synthetic rubber. Theprotruding pieces 38 are arranged at a center between one rim 41A andanother rim 41B of the dust-collection port 41 in a circumferentialdirection of the drum main body 37, and are mounted to the drum mainbody 37.

The protruding pieces 38 protrude from an outer-peripheral surface ofthe drum main body 37 in a radially outward direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first dust-catch brush 39 is arrangedbetween the one rim 41A of the dust-collection port 41 and theprotruding pieces 38 in the circumferential direction of the drum mainbody 37, and is mounted to the outer-peripheral surface of the drum mainbody 37. The first dust-catch brush 39 includes a plurality of inclinedpiles (inclined cut piles) inclined toward the one rim 41A of thedust-collection port 41.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the second dust-catch brush 40 is arrangedbetween the another rim 41B of the dust-collection port 41 and theprotruding pieces 38 in the circumferential direction of the drum mainbody 37, and is mounted to the outer-peripheral surface of the drum mainbody 37. The second dust-catch brush 40 includes a plurality of inclinedpiles (inclined cut piles) inclined toward the another rim 41B of thedust-collection port 41.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 13, the dust-catch brush 2 isprovided in the first dust-collection chamber IB with the cylindercenter line A of the drum main body being matched with theleft-and-right direction LR. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the drum mainbody 37 is placed in such a manner that part of the outer-peripheralsurface of the drum main body 37 (part of first and second dust-catchbrushes 39 and 40) and the protruding pieces 38 project from a firstdust port CA defined by lower ends 15B of the wall plates 20 to 23 inthe up-and-down direction UD. The drum main body 37 is pivotablysupported by the right wall plate 20 and the left wall plate 21 (framemain body 15).

As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 13, the stopper pieces 17 and 18protrude from the dust-collection port 41 into the drum main body 37.The stopper pieces 17 and 18 are arranged so as be spaced apart from therims 41A and 41B of the dust-collection port 41 in the circumferentialdirection of the drum main body 37.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the first dust-removal brush 3includes a first wiper main body 42 and a first dust-removal brush 43.

The first dust-removal brush 43 is mounted to the first wiper main body42. The first dust-removal brush 43 includes a plurality of inclinedpiles (inclined cut piles) inclined in the same direction as that of theinclined piles of the first dust-catch brush 39. The first wiper mainbody 42 is provided between the drum main body 37 and the partition wall16 in the front-and-rear direction FR, and is located in the firstdust-collection chamber IB while the first dust-removal brush 43 is inpressure contact with the first dust-catch brush 39. The first wipermain body 42 extends in the left-and-right direction LR, and is rockablysupported in the frame main body 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the second dust-removal brush 4includes a second wiper main body 44 and a second dust-removal brush 45.

The second dust-removal brush 45 is mounted to the second wiper mainbody 44. The second dust-removal brush 45 includes a plurality ofinclined piles (inclined cut piles) inclined in the same direction asthat of the inclined piles of the second dust-catch brush 40. The secondwiper main body 44 is provided between the drum main body 37 (dust-catchbrush 2) and the rear wall plate 23 in the front-and-rear direction FR,and is located in the first dust-collection chamber IB while the seconddust-removal brush 45 is in pressure contact with the second dust-catchbrush 40 (dust-catch brush 2). The second wiper main body 44 extends inthe left-and-right direction LR, and is rockably supported in the framemain body 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 and FIG. 12, each of the rollerwheels 5 and 6 has a roller inner ring 95 and a roller outer ring 96.The roller inner ring 95 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin.

The roller outer ring 96 is formed of, for example, an elastic bodycontaining a synthetic rubber. The roller outer ring 96 is mounted ontoan outer-peripheral surface of the roller inner ring 95 so that theroller outer ring 96 and the roller inner ring 95 form an integral body.

The roller wheel 5 is arranged concentrically with the wheel shaft 25.The roller wheel 5 is mounted to the right wall plate 20 with a wheelouter-peripheral surface of the roller wheel 5 (outer-peripheral surfaceof the roller outer ring 96) being located between the outer-peripheralsurface of the drum main body 37 and distal ends of the protrudingpieces 38. The roller wheel 5 is pivotably mounted to the right wallplate 20 by fitting the roller inner ring 95 over the wheel shaft 25 sothat the roller inner ring 95 faces an outer side of the right wallplate 20.

The roller wheel 6 is arranged concentrically with the wheel shaft 26.The roller wheel 6 is mounted to the left wall plate 21 with a wheelouter-peripheral surface of the roller wheel 6 (outer-peripheral surfaceof the roller outer ring 96) being located between the outer-peripheralsurface of the drum main body 37 and distal ends of the protrudingpieces 38. The roller wheel 6 is pivotably mounted to the left wallplate 21 of the frame main body 15 by fitting the roller inner ring 95over the wheel shaft 26 so that the roller inner ring 95 faces an outerside of the left wall plate 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the roller brush 7 includes a rigid shaft 46,a pair of right and left guide rollers 47 and 48, and a cleaning brushcloth 49.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the rigid shaft 46 is a brush shaft. The rigidshaft 46 is made of, for example, a metal such as an aluminum alloyhaving rigidity, and is formed in a cylindrical shape (or to have acircular cross section).

As illustrated in FIG. 9, each of the guide rollers 47 and 48 has aroller-pivot shaft 50, and is made of, for example, a synthetic resin.The roller-pivot shafts 50 are arranged concentrically with the guiderollers 47 and 48 to project from wheel surfaces 47A and 48A,respectively.

The guide rollers 47 and 48 are arranged concentrically with a shaftcenter line G of the rigid shaft 46, and are pivotably mounted to shaftends 46A and 46B of the rigid shaft 46 so that wheel back surfaces 47Band 48B face the shaft ends, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the cleaning brush cloth 49 includes afoundation cloth 51 and a plurality of cut piles 52. The plurality ofcut piles 52 are raised from a cloth front surface 51A (front surface)of the foundation cloth 51.

The foundation cloth 51 is formed by weaving warp yarns (not shown)arranged side by side in a weft direction P into each of weft yarns (notshown) arranged side by side in a warp direction Q.

The plurality of cut piles 52 are arranged between the warp yarns in theweft direction P. The cut piles 52 are woven into the foundation cloth51 by W weave or V weave along the warp direction Q to form W-pile orV-pile.

The cut piles 52 are continuously woven into the foundation cloth 51 inone row, for example, in the weft direction P.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the cleaning brush cloth 49 is providedbetween the guide rollers 47 and 48. One or a plurality of cleaningbrush cloths 49 are helically wound around a shaft outer-peripheralsurface 46C of the rigid shaft 46 so that a cloth back surface 51B (backsurface) of the foundation cloth 51 is in contact therewith, and arefixed to the rigid shaft 46 with, for example, an adhesive.

As a result, the cleaning brush cloth 49 is formed in a circular shapewith the cut piles 52 projecting beyond the outer-peripheral surfaces ofthe guide rollers 47 and 48.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 8, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the roller brush7 is provided in the second dust-collection chamber IC (in the casing 1)with the shaft center line G of the rigid shaft 46 being matched withthe left-and-right direction LR and part of the cut piles 52 of thecleaning brush cloth 49 and part of each of the guide rollers 47 and 48projecting beyond the lower ends 15B (second dust-collection port CB) ofthe wall plates 20 to 23.

The rigid shaft 46 and the guide rollers 47 and 48 of the roller brush 7are inserted between the brush support plates 28 and 29 while the brushsupport plates 28 and 29 are being elastically deformed in theleft-and-right direction LR. The rigid shaft 46 is pushed downward inthe up-and-down direction UD under an elastically deformed state toinsert the pivot shafts 50 of the guide rollers 47 and 48 into thepivot-shaft holes 30 and 31, respectively. In this manner, the rollerbrush 7 is pivotably supported by the brush support plates 28 and 29.

For removal of the roller brush 7, one brush support plate iselastically deformed outward in the left-and-right direction LR. Therigid shaft 46 is pulled upward in the up-and-down direction UD whilebeing elastically deformed. The pivot shafts 50 of the guide rollers 47and 48 are removed from the pivot-shaft holes 30 and 31. In this manner,the roller brush 7 is removed from the brush support plates 28 and 29(frame main body 15).

In this manner, the roller brush 7 is removable from the brush supportplates 28 and 29 (frame main body 15) under an elastically deformedstate of the rigid shaft 46. The shaft ends 46A and 46B of the rigidshaft 46 are pivotably supported by the brush support plates 28 and 29(frame main body 15), respectively.

Further, the handle 34 is provided at the center in the direction of theshaft center line G of the rigid shaft 46.

The lid 8 is pivotably mounted to the frame main body 15, and isconfigured to open and close the discharge port 24. As illustrated inFIG. 1, FIG. 5, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the lid 8 includes a right lidplate 53 and a left lid plate 54 in the left-and-right direction, anupper lid plate 55, a first-lid pivot shaft 56, a second-lid pivot shaft57, and a lid partition plate 58.

The upper lid plate 55 is provided between the right lid plate 53 andthe left lid plate 54, and is formed integrally with the right lid plate53 and the left lid plate 54. The upper lid plate 55 is formed in, forexample, an arc-like shape projecting upward in the up-and-downdirection UD.

The first-lid pivot shaft 56 is formed on a front part of the right lidplate 53 in the front-and-rear direction FR, and is formed integrallywith the right lid plate 53. The first-lid pivot shaft 56 projectsleftward in the left-and-right direction LR from an inner plate surface(back plate surface) of the right lid plate 53.

The second-lid pivot shaft 57 is formed on a front part of the left lidplate 54 in the front-and-rear direction FR, and is formed integrallywith the left lid plate 54. The second-lid pivot shaft 57 is arrangedconcentrically with the first-lid pivot shaft 56, and projects rightwardin the left-and-right direction LR from an inner plate surface (backplate surface) of the left lid plate 54.

The lid partition plate 58 is formed integrally with the upper lid plate55. The lid partition plate 58 is formed to project downward in theup-and-down direction UD from an inner plate surface 55A (back platesurface) of the upper lid plate 55.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the right lid plate 53 of the lid 8is located on an outer side of the right wall plate 20. The right lidplate 53 is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the right wall plate20 in the left-and-right direction LR.

The left lid plate 54 of the lid 8 is located on an outer side of theleft wall plate 21. The left lid plate 54 is arranged so as to be spacedapart from the left wall plate 21 in the left-and-right direction LR.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first-lid pivot shaft 56 is inserted intothe lid pivot-shaft hole 32 from an outer side of the right wall plate20 so that the lid 8 is pivotably supported in the right wall plate 20.The second-lid pivot shaft 57 is inserted into the lid pivot-shaft hole33 from an outer side of the left wall plate 21 so that the lid 8 ispivotably supported in the left wall plate 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12, when being pivoted (rocked) aboutthe first and second-lid pivot shafts 56 and 57 as a center of pivot,the lid 8 is brought into a closed state of the discharge port 24(hereinafter referred to as “closed state”) or an open state of thedischarge port 24 (hereinafter referred to as “open state”).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, under the closed state, the upper lid plate 55covers the front wall plate 22 and the discharge port 24, and is inabutment against the upper end of the right wall plate 20, the upper endof the left wall plate 21, and upper ends of the brush support plates 28and 29. Under the closed state, the upper lid plate 55 is located infront of the front wall plate 22, and extends toward a lower end of thefront wall plate 22.

Under the closed state, the lid partition plate 58 is brought intoabutment against the partition wall 16 from above in the up-and-downdirection UD to completely isolate (close) the first dust-collectionchamber IB and the second dust-collection chamber IC from each other incooperation with the lid partition plate 58.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, under the closed state, the rightlid plate 53 and the left lid plate 54 are located on outer sides of theroller wheels 5 and 6 to cover part of the roller wheel 5 and part ofthe roller wheel 6, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 12 to FIG. 15,under the open state, the right lid plate 53 and the left lid plate 54cover part of the right wall plate 20 and part of the left wall plate21, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 13, the operation button 9 includes abutton main body 60 and a pair of right-and-left button-pivot shafts 61and 62.

The button-pivot shafts 61 and 62 are formed on a front part of thebutton main body 60 in the front-and-rear direction FR, and are formedintegrally with the button main body 60. The button-pivot shaft 61 isformed to project rightward in the left-and-right direction LR from thebutton main body 60. The button-pivot shaft 62 is formed to projectleftward in the left-and-right direction LR from the button main body60.

As illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the button main body 60 isprovided in the button-accommodation hole 35 so as to define a clawinsertion space δ on a front side in the front-and-rear direction FR.The button main body 60 is provided in the button-accommodation hole 35with the button-pivot shafts 61 and 62 being directed in theleft-and-right direction LR. The button-pivot shafts 61 and 62 aresupported in the handle 34 so that the button main body 60 is pivotablysupported in the handle 34.

The closed lid holder 10 holds the lid 8 in the closed state of thedischarge port 24. The closed lid holder 10 pushes the lid 8, which isin the closed state, in a direction of opening the discharge port 24 inaccordance with an operation of the operation button 9 to allow the lid8 to pivot.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. 10 to FIG. 12, the closed lidholder 10 includes a pair of right-and-left button-stop protrusions 63and 64, a pair of right and left handle stopping protrusions 65 and 66,a push plate 67, a pair of right and left first claws 68 and 69, and asecond claw 70.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 12, the button-stop protrusions 63 and64 are provided between a front end 60A of the button main body 60 andthe button-pivot shafts 61 and 62 in the front-and-rear direction FR.The button-stop protrusions 63 and 64 are formed on the button main body60 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the left-and-rightdirection LR.

Each of the button-stop protrusions 63 and 64 has a protrusion-stopinclined surface 71 at its lower end in the up-and-down direction UD.The protrusion-stop inclined surface 71 is inclined while extendingdownward in the up-and-down direction UD and forward in thefront-and-rear direction FR from each of the button-pivot shafts 61 and62.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 12, the handle stopping protrusions 65and 66 are formed on the handle 34 so as to be located in thebutton-accommodation hole 35. Each of the handle stopping protrusions 65and 66 are formed to project toward the discharge port 24 to define theclaw insertion space δ on the front side in the front-and-rear directionUD. The handle stopping protrusions 65 and 66 are formed to be locatedbelow the button-stop protrusions 63 and 64 in the up-and-down directionUD, respectively. The handle stopping protrusions 65 and 66 are arrangedso as to be spaced apart from each other in the left-and-right directionLR.

Each of the handle stopping protrusions 65 and 66 has a protrusion-stopflat surface 72 at its lower end in the up-and-down direction UD. Theprotrusion-stop flat surface 72 is a flat surface extending in parallelto the left-and-right direction LR and the front-and-rear direction FR.

The push plate 67 is formed integrally with the button main body 60 soas to be located in the button-accommodation hole 35. Along with pivotof the button main body (operation button 9), the push plate 67 is movedfrom the button-accommodation hole 35 to be brought into abutmentagainst the handle 34 and the button-stop wall plate 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 12, the push plate 67 is provided at aposition between the button-stop protrusions 63 and 64 and between thehandle stopping protrusions 65 and 66 so as to be spaced apart from thebutton-stop protrusions 63 and 64 and the handle stopping protrusions 65and 66.

The push plate 67 extends from the button main body 60 to a positioncorresponding to the handle stopping protrusions 65 and 66 in theup-and-down direction UD.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the first claws 68 and69 are formed on the upper lid plate 55 so as to be located on a rearend side of the upper lid plate 55 in the front-and-rear direction LR.The first claws 68 and 69 are arranged so as to be spaced apart fromeach other in the left-and-right direction LR. As illustrated in FIG.10, the first claws 68 and 69 are formed on the right and left sides atequal distances from a center of the upper lid plate 55 in theleft-and-right direction LR in alignment with each other. The firstclaws 68 and 69 are formed of elastic bodies made of, for example, asynthetic resin.

Each of the first claws 68 and 69 has a first claw support portion 73(first claw support plate) and a first claw protrusion 74.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the first claw supportportions 73 are formed integrally with the upper lid plate 55 so as tobe supported by the upper lid plate 55 in a cantilever manner. The firstclaw support portions 73 are formed to project downward in theup-and-down direction UD from the upper lid plate 55.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the first clawprotrusions 74 are formed to project rearward in the front-and-reardirection UD from lower ends of the first claw support portions 73. Eachof the first claw protrusions 74 has a protrusion inclined surface 75 atits upper end in the up-and-down direction UD. The protrusion inclinedsurfaces 75 are abuttable against the protrusion-stop inclined surfaces71 of the button-stop protrusions 63 and 64. Each of the protrusioninclined surfaces 75 is inclined while extending rearward in thefront-and-rear direction FR and upward in the up-and-down direction UDfrom the first claw support portion 73.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the second claw 70 isformed on the upper lid plate 55 so as to be located on the rear endside of the upper lid plate 55 in the front-and-rear direction FR. Thesecond claw 70 is located between the first claws 68 and 68. The secondclaw 70 is located at a center of the upper lid plate 55 in theleft-and-right direction LR. The second claw 70 is formed of an elasticbody made of, for example, a synthetic resin.

The second claw 70 has a second claw support portion 76 (second clawsupport plate) and a second claw protrusion 77.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the second claw supportportion 76 is formed integrally with the upper lid plate 55 so as to besupported by the upper lid plate 55 in a cantilever manner. The secondclaw support portion 76 is formed to project (extend) from the upper lidplate 55 to a position below the first claws 68 and 68 (first clawprotrusions 74) in the up-and-down direction UD.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the second clawprotrusion 77 is formed to project rearward in the front-and-reardirection UD from a lower end of the second claw support portion 76 inthe up-and-down direction UD.

The second claw protrusion 77 has a protrusion flat surface at its upperend in the up-and-down direction UD. The protrusion flat surface 78 isabuttable against the protrusion-stop flat surfaces 72 of the handlestopping protrusions 65 and 66. The protrusion flat surface 78 is a flatsurface extending in parallel to the left-and-right direction LR and thefront-and-rear direction FR.

When the lid 8, which is in the open state, is rotated, the first claws68 and 69 are inserted into the insertion space δ as illustrated in FIG.16(b) to bring the first claw protrusions 74 into abutment against thebutton-stop protrusions 63 and 64 in the closed lid holder 10. Thesecond claw 70 is inserted into the claw insertion space δ asillustrated in FIG. 17(b) to bring the second claw protrusion 77 intoabutment against the handle stopping protrusions 65 and 66 and the pushplate 67.

Along with the rotation of the lid 8 to bring the lid 8 into the closedstate, the first claws 68 and 69 are elastically deformed forward in thefront-and-rear direction FR as illustrated in FIG. 7 by the abutmentagainst the button-stop protrusions 63 and 64. Then, the protrusioninclined surfaces are brought into abutment against the protrusion-stopinclined surfaces 71 of the button-stop protrusions 63 and 64 from belowin the up-and-down direction UD. The second claw 70 is elasticallydeformed forward in the front-and-rear direction FR as illustrated inFIG. 5 by the abutment against the handle stopping protrusions 65 and 66to be brought into abutment against the protrusion-stop flat surfaces 72of the handle stopping protrusions 65 and 66 from below in theup-and-down direction UD.

In this manner, the closed lid holder 10 disables the rotation of thelid 8, which is in the open state, in an opening direction to hold thelid 8 in the closed state.

Along with the rotation of the lid 8 to bring the lid 8 into the openstate, the second claw protrusion 77 of the second claw 70 is broughtinto abutment against the push plate 67 to push the push plate 67rearward in the front-and-rear direction FR to thereby rotate the buttonmain body 60. The push plate 67 is rotated together with the button mainbody 60 to be brought into abutment against the handle 34.

As a result, the rotation of the button main body 60 is stopped toposition the button main body 60 at a button closed position P1 at whichthe button main body 60 is flush with the upper end 34A (upper surface)of the handle 34 (button closed position P1 on the upper end 34A side ofthe handle 34).

The button main body 60 at the button closed position P1 is pusheddownward in the up-and-down direction UD to be rotated downward in theup-and-down direction UD.

As illustrated in FIG. 16(a), the push plate 67 is pressed against thesecond claw protrusion 77 of the second claw 70 along with the downwardrotation (rotation in one direction) of the button main body 60. As aresult, the push plate 67 pushes the lid 8, which is in the closedstate, in the direction of opening the discharge port 24 to elasticallydeform the second claw 70 (the second claw support portion 76 and thesecond claw protrusion 77) forward in the front-and-rear direction UDand downward in the up-and-down direction UD.

As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 16(b), the push plate 67 separatesthe protrusion flat surface 78 of the second claw from theprotrusion-stop flat surfaces 72 of the handle stopping protrusions 65and 66 to thereby move (separate) the second claw 70 into a second clawinsertion space δ2.

As illustrated in FIG. 17(a), along with the rotation of the button mainbody 60 in the one direction, the button-stop protrusions 63 and 64 turnupward in the up-and-down direction UD to separate the protrusion-stopinclined surfaces 71 from the protrusion inclined surfaces 75 of thefirst claws 68 and 69. Along with the forward pushing of the second claw70, the push plate 67 moves the first claws 68 and 69 (lid 8) in adirection of opening the discharge port 24. As a result, as illustratedin FIG. 17(b), the protrusion inclined surfaces 75 of the first claws 68and 69 are separated from the first protrusion-stop inclined surfaces 71of the button-stop protrusions 63 and 64 by the rotation of the buttonmain body 60 in the one direction and the pushing of the second claw 70with the push plate 67 to thereby place (move) the first claws 68 and 69in the insertion space δ. As described above, along with the operationof the operation button 9 (button main body 60), the closed lid holder10 allows the lid 8 to pivot.

The open-lid lid holder 11 holds the lid 8, which is in the open stateof the discharge port 24. Along with an action on the lid 8, which is inthe open state, with a given rotational force in a direction of closingthe discharge port 24, the open-lid lid holder 11 allows the lid 8 topivot.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 to FIG. 15, the open-lid lid holder 11has first and second guide arc-shaped grooves 80 and 81, first andsecond stopping protrusions 82 and 83, and first and second guideprotrusions 84 and 85.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first guide arc-shaped groove 80 isformed in the right wall plate 20 to be located between the roller wheel5 and the front wall plate 22 in the front-and-rear direction UD. Thefirst guide arc-shaped groove 80 is formed concentrically with thefirst-lid pivot shaft 56, and is formed to have an arc shape in a partof the right wall plate 20 on the rear wall plate 23 side and the lowerend 15B side and a part of the right wall plate 20 on the front wallplate 22 side and the lower end 15B side. The first guide arc-shapedgroove 80 is open toward the right lid plate 53.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the second guide arc-shaped groove 81 isformed in the left wall plate 21 to be located between the roller wheel6 and the front wall plate 22 in the front-and-rear direction UD. Thesecond guide arc-shaped groove 81 is formed concentrically with thesecond-lid pivot shaft 57, and is formed to have an arc shape in a partof the left wall plate 21 on the rear wall plate 23 side and the lowerend 15B side and a part of the left wall plate 21 on the front wallplate 22 side and the lower end 15B side. The second guide arc-shapedgroove 81 is open toward the left lid plate 54. The second guidearc-shaped groove 81 is formed in the same arc shape as that of thefirst guide arc-shaped groove 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first stopping protrusion 82 is locatedin the first guide arc-shaped groove 80. The first stopping protrusion82 is located in a part of the first guide arc-shaped groove 80 on thefront wall plate 22 side, and is formed to project from a groove bottomsurface 80A of the first guide arc-shaped groove 80 toward the right lidplate 53. The first stopping protrusion 82 has a first guide slope 86 ona rear side in the front-and-rear direction UD.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the second stopping protrusion 83 is locatedin the second guide arc-shaped groove 81. The second stopping protrusion83 is located in a part of the second guide arc-shaped groove 81 on thefront wall plate 22 side, and is formed to project from a groove bottomsurface 81A of the second guide arc-shaped groove 81 toward the left lidplate 54. The second stopping protrusion 83 is formed at the sameposition as the first stopping protrusion 82. The first stoppingprotrusion 83 has a second guide slope 87 on a rear side in thefront-and-rear direction UD.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 14, the first guideprotrusion 84 is formed on the right wall plate 20 of the lid 8. Thefirst guide protrusion 84 projects from the right wall plate 20. Thefirst guide protrusion 84 is inserted into the first guide arc-shapedgroove 80 in such a manner that a gap is defined between the first guideprotrusion 84 and the groove bottom surface 80A of the first guidearc-shaped groove 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 14, the second guideprotrusion 85 is formed on the left wall plate 21 of the lid 8. Thesecond guide protrusion 85 projects from the left wall plate 21. Thesecond guide protrusion 85 is inserted into the second guide arc-shapedgroove 81 in such a manner that a gap is defined between the secondguide protrusion 85 and the groove bottom surface 81A of the secondguide arc-shaped groove 81. The second guide protrusion 85 is formed atthe same position as the first guide protrusion 84.

Under the closed state, as illustrated in FIG. 18(a), the first andsecond guide protrusions 84 and 85 of the open-lid lid holder 11 arelocated in parts of the first and second guide arc-shaped grooves 80 and81 on the rear wall plate 23 side. Under the closed state, the first andsecond guide protrusions 84 and 85 are in abutment against rear grooveends 80B and 81B of the first and second guide arc-shaped grooves 80 and81, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 18(b), along with the rotation of the lid 8,which is in the closed state, in a direction of opening the dischargeport 24, the first and second guide protrusions 84 and 85 are broughtinto abutment against the first and second guide slopes 86 and 87, passover the first and second stopping protrusions 82 and 83, and then arelocated in parts of the first and second guide arc-shaped grooves 80 and81 on the front wall plate 22 side, respectively. When the lid 8 is inthe open state, a front end of the upper lid plate 55 is in abutmentagainst the bottom wall plate 27 (lower end 15B).

As illustrated in FIG. 18(c), under the open state, the first and secondguide protrusions 84 and 85 are located between front groove ends of thefirst and second guide arc-shaped grooves 80 and 81 and the first andsecond stopping protrusions 82 and 83.

Along with an action on the lid 8, which is in the open state, with aforce smaller than a given rotational force (smaller than a given force)in the direction of closing the lid 8, the first and second guideprotrusions 84 and 85 are brought into abutment against the first andsecond stopping protrusions 82 and 83, respectively. As a result, theopen-lid lid holder 11 maintains the open state of the lid 8.

With the above-mentioned configuration, when the discharge port 24 isdirected downward in the up-and-down direction UD, dirt and dustcollected in the first and second dust-collection chambers 1B and 1C(internal space 1A) can be discharged without causing the lid 8 to beclosed.

Along with an action on the lid 8, which is in the open state, with arotational force equal to or larger than a given rotational force (forceequal to or larger than a given force) in the direction of closing thedischarge port 24, the first and second guide protrusions 84 and 85 passover the first and second stopping protrusions 82 and 83 to be locatedin parts of the first and second guide arc-shaped grooves 80 and 81,which are located at lower ends of the right and left wall plates 20 and21 on the rear wall plate 23 side. The first and second guideprotrusions 84 and 85 are brought into abutment against the rear grooveends 80B and 81B of the first and second guide arc-shaped grooves 80 and81, respectively.

In this manner, the lid 8 is brought into a closed state to therebyclose the discharge port 24.

Next, cleaning with the manual cleaning tool X is described withreference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7.

For convenience of description, it is assumed that, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the protruding pieces 38 are located on the first dust-catchbrush 39 side and the drum main body 37 is in abutment against thestopper pieces 17 and 18 on the front side in the front-and-reardirection UD.

The manual cleaning tool X is placed with the roller wheels 5 and 6being in contact with a target to be cleaned (hereinafter referred to as“target to be cleaned”) such as a carpet, a tatami mat, or a woodenfloor and with the roller brush 7 (cut piles 52), the second dust-catchbrush 40 (inclined piles), and the protruding pieces 38 being inabutment against the target to be cleaned.

Subsequently, when the handle 34 is gripped to move the casing 1 forwardin the front-and-rear direction FR, the roller brush 7 and the drum mainbody 37 of the dust-catch brush 2 are rotated in the one direction.

In this manner, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the roller brush 7 collectsdirt and dust in the second dust-collection chamber IC (in the internalspace IA) with use of the cut piles 52, and the dust-catch brush 2collects dust in the first dust-collection chamber IB with use of thesecond dust-catch brush 40. At this time, the dust adhering to the firstdust-catch brush 39 is removed with the first dust-removal brush 43 ofthe first dust-removal brush 3 to be collected in the firstdust-collection chamber IB. The drum main body 37 is brought intoabutment against the stopper pieces 17 and 18 from a rear side in thefront-and-rear direction FRb.

Subsequently, when the casing 1 is moved rearward in the front-and-reardirection FR, the roller brush 7 and the drum main body 37 of thedust-catch brush 2 are rotated in the another direction.

In this manner, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the roller brush 7 collectsdirt and dust in the second dust-collection chamber IC (in the internalspace IA) with use of the cut piles 52, and the dust-catch brush 2collects dust in the first dust-collection chamber IB with use of thefirst dust-catch brush 39. At this time, the dust adhering to the seconddust-catch brush 40 is removed with the second dust-removal brush 45 ofthe second dust-removal brush 4 to be collected in the firstdust-collection chamber IB. The drum main body 37 is brought intoabutment against the stopper pieces 17 and 18 from a front side in thefront-and-rear direction UD.

In this manner, when the casing 1 is reciprocated in the front-and-reardirection UD, the manual cleaning tool X collects dirt and dust in thefirst and second dust-collection chambers IB and IC (in the internalspace IA).

When the roller brush 7 (cut piles 52) and the dust-catch brush 2 arepressed against the target to be cleaned along with forward movement ofthe casing 1, the lid 8, which is in the closed state, is subjected to arotational force in the direction of opening the discharge port.

At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 7, under the closed state, theprotrusion inclined surfaces 75 of the first claws 68 and 69 are pressedagainst the protrusion-stop inclined surfaces 71 of the button-stopprotrusions 65 and 66 from below in the up-and-down direction UD. Underthe closed state, the protrusion flat surface 78 of the second claw 70is pressed against the protrusion-stop flat surfaces 72 of the handlestopping protrusions 65 and 66 from below in the up-and-down directionUD. In this manner, the rotation of the lid 8, which is in the closedstate, in the direction of opening the discharge port 24 is restricted.As a result, the lid 8 is not opened during cleaning.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is optimal for cleaning of a carpet, a tatami mat,a wooden floor, and a vehicle interior of an automobile.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

X manual cleaning tool

1 casing

5, 6 roller wheel

7 roller brush

8 lid

15 frame main body

46 rigid shaft

47, 48 guide roller

49 cleaning brush cloth

51 foundation cloth

52 cut pile fiber

1. A manual cleaning tool, comprising: a casing including a frame mainbody having a right wall plate and a left wall plate arranged in aleft-and-right direction and a front wall plate and a rear wall platearranged in a front-and-rear direction, which define an internal space,the casing having a discharge port defined by upper ends of the wallplates in an up-and-down direction; a pair of roller wheels pivotablymounted to the frame main body; a roller brush provided inside thecasing; and a lid pivotably mounted to the frame main body andconfigured to open and close the discharge port, wherein the rollerwheels are arranged such that wheel outer-peripheral surfaces of theroller wheels project beyond lower ends of the wall plates in theup-and-down direction, and are pivotably supported by the right wallplate and the left wall plate from an outer side of the frame main body,wherein the roller brush includes: a rigid shaft; a pair of guiderollers arranged concentrically with a shaft center line of the rigidshaft and mounted to shaft ends of the rigid shaft; a cleaning brushcloth including a foundation cloth and cut piles raised from a clothfront surface of the foundation cloth wound helically around a shaftouter-peripheral surface of the rigid shaft such that a cloth backsurface of the foundation cloth is in contact with the shaftouter-peripheral surface and fixed to the rigid shaft such that distalends of the cut piles project beyond outer-peripheral surfaces of theguide rollers, wherein the roller brush is provided inside the casingwith the shaft center line of the rigid shaft being matched with theleft-and-right direction and part of the cut piles of the cleaning brushcloth and part of each of the guide rollers projecting beyond the lowerends of the wall plates, and wherein the roller brush is removable fromthe frame main body under an elastically deformed state of the rigidshaft, and the shaft ends of the rigid shaft are pivotably supported bythe frame main body.
 2. The manual cleaning tool according to claim 1,wherein the casing includes a handle, and wherein the handle is formedon the rear wall plate to be located at a center in a direction of theshaft center line of the rigid shaft, and extends rearward in thefront-and-rear direction from the rear wall plate.
 3. The manualcleaning tool according to claim 2, wherein the lid includes: a rightlid plate and a left lid plate arranged in the left-and-right direction;an upper lid plate arranged between the right lid plate and the left lidplate and formed integrally with the right lid plate and the left lidplate; a first-lid pivot shaft projecting leftward in the left-and-rightdirection from the right lid plate; and a second-lid pivot shaftprojecting rightward in the left-and-right direction from the left lidplate, wherein the lid is mounted to the frame main body with the rightlid plate being located on an outer side of the right wall plate, theleft wall plate being located on an outer side of the left wall plate,the first-lid pivot shaft being pivotably supported by the right wallplate, and the second-lid pivot shaft being pivotably supported by theleft wall plate, wherein the upper lid plate covers the front wall plateand the discharge port and is in abutment against the upper ends of theright wall plate and the left wall plate under a closed state of thedischarge port, and wherein the right wall plate and the left wall plateare located on the outer side of the roller wheels under the closedstate, and cover part of the right wall plate and the left wall plateunder an open state of the discharge port.
 4. The manual cleaning toolaccording to claim 2, wherein the lid includes: a right lid plate and aleft lid plate arranged in the left-and-right direction; an upper lidplate arranged between the right lid plate and the left lid plate andformed integrally with the right lid plate and the left lid plate; afirst-lid pivot shaft projecting leftward in the left-and-rightdirection from the right lid plate; and a second-lid pivot shaftprojecting rightward in the left-and-right direction from the left lidplate, wherein the lid is mounted to the frame main body with the rightlid plate being located on an outer side of the right wall plate, theleft wall plate being located on an outer side of the left wall plate,the first-lid pivot shaft being pivotably supported by the right wallplate, and the second-lid pivot shaft being pivotably supported by theleft wall plate, wherein the upper lid plate covers the front wall plateand the discharge port and is in abutment against the upper ends of theright wall plate and the left wall plate under a closed state of thedischarge port, and wherein the right wall plate and the left wall plateare located on the outer side of the roller wheels under the closedstate, and cover part of the right wall plate and the left wall plateunder an open state of the discharge port.
 5. The manual cleaning toolaccording to claim 1, further comprising an open-lid lid holderconfigured to hold the lid in an open state of the discharge port,wherein the open-lid lid holder is configured to allow the lid to pivotalong with an action on the lid with a given rotational force in adirection of closing the discharge port in the open state.
 6. The manualcleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the roller wheelsincludes: a roller inner ring pivotably mounted to each of the rightwall plate and the left wall plate; and a roller outer ring mounted toan outer-peripheral surface of the roller inner ring such that theroller inner ring and the roller outer ring form an integral body,wherein the roller outer ring is formed of an elastic body containing asynthetic rubber.